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Hopewell Theater, Creating Community Around Art

On September 7th, Hopewell Theater opened its doors to the public with an eclectic mix of programming, more typically offered in large cities. The 172-seat theater, located at 5 South Greenwood Avenue in Hopewell Borough, former home of The Off-Broadstreet Theater, now offers TED-style talks, live music by emerging and established musicians, indie films, and book discussions, to name a few.

In 2015, business partners Jon McConaughy, Liza Morehouse, and Mitchel Skolnick purchased the building from The Off-Broadstreet Theater owners, Bob and Julie Thick. Though the Thicks continued producing plays through the spring, they decided to retire by the end of December 2016.

The group started basic renovations on 2016, and Mitchel Skolnick, partner in Bluestone Farms in Hopewell and avid supporter of the arts, launched a production company with Sara Scully, president of Scullyone Productions and founder of Lambertville’s Acme Screening Room. Scully’s vision, to create “a dine-in theater that was a warm and welcoming place to meet friends, get something to eat, and have a great cultural experience,” was embraced by the partnership.

Under Scully’s direction, further renovations were made and include a new lobby, box office, state-of-the-art cinema system with surround sound, a concession stand featuring dishes from local restaurants, expanded theater seating area, and a balcony containing additional seating.

Photo by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography

“I’ve always been excited about creating a place for community engagement where people can access art at any level, whether you’re an expert or a person who wants to come see an interesting new film,” said Scully. “At the Acme, we had a hyperlocal filmmaker who made a film about Halloween in Lambertville with a camcorder, and we also had the producer of the Batman films coming to talk. Some people make extraordinary things who are amateurs.”

Whether on a date, out with family and friends, or solo, Hopewell Theater will likely be the “go to” spot for residents of Hopewell Valley and beyond. Community members are also encouraged to make suggestions for future shows.

Angela Jacobs resides in Hopewell Township with her husband, teenaged children, two cockatiels that are in an exclusive relationship and will not talk to her, and her emotionally fragile dog. When she is not busy writing for MercerMe or anthropomorphizing her pets, Angela can be found reading in her hammock, gardening, walking the valley's many trails, or writing her next short play.